Prohibitory orders in Mangalore after 18 churches attacked in three districts

Mangalore, Sept 15 (ANI): Though the situation remains peaceful a day after attacks on eighteen churches and prayer halls in Mangalore, Udipi and Chikmaglur Districts of Karnataka, prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed for three days in Mangalore.

Twenty five people including 12 policemen and three journalists were injured in violent protests on Sunday in incidents of stone-throwing by suspected Bajrang Dal activists, who were protesting against alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

The stone-throwing incident at Milagres in Mangalore occurred minutes before Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes visited it.

Thousands of Christians took to the streets to protest against the attacks.

Police had to resort to a mild baton charge in Hampankatta. The day-long stand off between the protesters and the police resulted in violence. The police in the three districts are yet to arrest anyone involved in the stone throwing incidents.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh spoke to Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and asked them to ensure communal harmony at any cost in the state.

However, senior BJP leader M Venkaiha Naidu said the state government would handle the issue.

According to Bajrang Dal sources, it was a coordinated attacks against conversion and no a single Catholic church was attacked. Only prayer halls belonging to the New Life Sect in southern Karnataka were attacked. (ANI)